Reenforced and safety sealed-box construction and method of manufacturing



Oct. 9 1923.

B. H. DAVIS REENFORCED AND SAFETY SEALED-,Box CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD 0FMANUFACTURING Filed NOV. 25 1921 l5' b Il) B. H` DAVIS REENFORCED ANDSAFETY SEALED BOX CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD 0F MANUFACTURING Filed Nov.25, 1921 s sheets-sheet 5 Y l f/ 111g 7, if .4 l@ y Oct. 9 1923.TLA-70,063

A w /f Patented @et 9, i923.

UNITEDKSTIT www BENJAMIN HoWARD Davis, or Besroiv, MASSACHUSETTS,

REENFORCED AND' SAFETY snALEn-Boxooiisrnucrioiv Aivn ifi-ii:vieronV orMANUFAC- TUBING. m

Application `filed November 25, 1921. Serial No. '517,638.11 Y

To all whom t mailA concern Be it known that I, BENJAMINV HOWARD. Davis,a citizen'of the United States, and

residentof Boston,y in the Vcounty of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have in y vented an Improvement in Reenforced and SafetySealed-Box Constructions and Methods of Manufacturing` 4ofiwhich thefollowing description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isa specificaf tion, like letters on thel drawings representing likeparts. i

My present inventionis directed to areenforcing and lsafetysealing'construction for boxes, packing cases, and packages, wherein itis important to have Aa strong con,` struction substantially pilferageproof,` as

well, also, as to provide a means of insuring the construction againstdamage by vre-V moval ,of a section, boardor portion, tam! pering withthe contents, and thus to pre#- vent thieving during transit..

It is also an important feature of my present invention that yI Yprovidea combined reenforcing and safety sealing means.

In other words I have not only devised aV seal, or sealing andindicating construction which will at once be an indicator if the boxhas been tampered with,vas1 well, also,. as to provide such sealingconstruction of strong,

firm arrange-ment to prevent any successful.

tampering therewith. Heretofore I believe that it has been customary tohave a sealing device simply and solely as an indicator to show at oncewhether the seal has been broken and the contents of the article sealedinterfered with, the strengthening and reenforcing feature being aseparate and independent item of'1construetion. Myinvention combinesthese botlr in a'singleV member, and this feature I wish to claimbroadly. Y A furthery important novelty in my -present inventionconsists in the arrangement of reenforcing and strengthening straps anddevices positioned on the interior of the box vand thussubstantiallyfree from 'dan-Y ger of damage, removal ortampering afterthe box'is closed and ready for shipment.

ThismethodV of box construction effectuallyr prevents lthe common methodof fpilfering from packing cases,V which has Vconsisted in hammering outone of the planks or boards' of which the packing case may be built, re`

moving the contents or some of them, and

replacingiitlie board so as to prieventnotice.

By the interior Vstrap arrangement-and at-V forcing straps projectthrough .from inside .to outside or vice versa,` substantially en'Icircling'the corner, edgeor cover-and sides of the box. I am advisedthat this feature, whereby a metallic vrreenforcing, sealing,

strengthening and A:protecting Y-member is bent over the corner orcombining the cover and box construction Vat Va corner, is new, i i

andI therefore wish to elaimfthisk feature broadly, as well as Tincombination with the various other novelties of my invention. A stillfurther advantage-0f my'present invention resides inV the concealedmanner in which the reenforcing, strengthening and safety means aresecured.' I not only provide astrengthening construction which will alsoeffeetually and positively prevent pilfering, unless thev entire box isdemolished, but I havedevised means to secure the ends ofthereenforcing,sealing and strengthening members, in a protected man ner, difficulttobe discerned by an outsider and impossible of ready removal, while yetpermitting the box to .fbe opened by'- one kno-wing the method andarrangement, and thus to preserve the case for'future and further use. lf yFurther features, important advantages and novel combinations of4parts will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed. l

Referring to the drawings,v illustrating a preferred embodimentv of myinvention,

showing a box constructioncarryingl out ,my

method, andsillustrating thenume'rous novelV features above briefly`outlined Fig, l is a general perspectiveview;`

Fig. 2 is also a frag process of construction;

mentary view showing 'Y ico Fig. 3 is a fragmentary'cross-sectional viewshowing-'1a perforation Vthrough* the box Vcover for thek insertion .ofthe reenforcing member; Y Fig. l illustrates same in position Fig. 5shows the next step after Fig. r4 in. the Vprocess Vof assembling; Y .f"Fig. 6 illustrates the next succeeding step;

Fig/Tshows afurther step in theprocess or method of' construction;

Fig: 8illustrates the pliant andfconccaled fastening on the'lineS-S ofFigf; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sect1 'onal vievv'on thelinefotFig.8; and

Fig. 10 shovv'sa type of device snitable 'or use in carrying' l`out myVmethod.

M* invention is applicable to box con struction of anysize desired,affording equal advantages Y to small, compa'eta.boxes, Vsuch forexample as those tor'use in shippingand protecting jewelry,r money orfthe likenvaluable land compact obj e'cts' and` articles ;-`-a's Well asof' value and utility: in connection with the Ylargest packinglcasesg'The inven. tion is especi ally applicable yfor average sized box*construction and.Y shipping packages,

' and vit isjior this purpo'seftha't itis primarily Y, intended to" beused." f'

f- :Referring tothe dra-Wingsfl, havel illusr trated in Figs. 1V and,typicalboxfconl struction tcr--packingf'ca1ses'wherein thef'sides of theboXY--ofusual' board orplank-conl struction-are"indicated at'Q, 2,' the#bottoni,

the interior ofthe/bon" I applyone orrnore in side metal strapsdndicated'at 1G "1 O, l0, andi secure th'ese internal I reinforcn 1 streneningand-'saety straps t'o the pla king Acorn-v p'ri'singthe sides'fardbottoni, as Well asthe i top. Preferably Iattach'thcse 'insi le strapsby'rneans of staples" l2, spanningtlieedges of ace'ntI planksand'clinchthejfout-turned' Vmering a single plank when only reta-inedl bynails 14., Such ar plank thus driven ou't gives access tothe interior ofthe box or packing case, permits piltering and then when the plankisreplaced no indication is left of the fact that the box yhas beentampered With. Bilt my Vuse o-'a4 secure fastening device, however, suchfor example as the staples l2, either independently or in connectionwiththe ordinary nail tastenings, it is impossible to thus drive out orremove a single plank without entirely c estroying the same,spli-ntering and splittingV eachk V edge portion Wlierethus4 secured bythe .staples l2,

and when thus removed it cannot ot course be replaced. Consequently thetacty of the destruction of the bornandl access th'erejo'Y vvniildbediscovered instantly, asniucli so .as

, itVv the box were broken up entirely with allY RXQ.

Vl believe that theusef-oflsuch internal straps With a safetyasteningdevice-is distinctly new and this is one of the Vfeatures ofVmy. f invention which. I have claimed broadly herein; V

lW ith the-inside strap Vor straps thussefy cured to sides, bottom andcover, the edge-Y most plank oi' the cover is slotted, as shown atY 15..'Preferably,such slot is made closely adjacent the endmost part of thereinforc-A ing strapV l0 at this .edgevot thezcover,V` the strap being.slightly angledor staggered as it is applied to'y the boxland sid-es",`so thatthe opposite end-:Which isv leftfprojectingl above the edgeoi'theside*Qf-maybe'iittedthrough S9 said slotV 15 as thecover 474 iszvclosedi placed inqzio'sitionl` This step is clearlyV shown in'Fg'S. 'andll yi" With t-lie'strap l0 thlisfextendingi;through the top andthecoverlclosedrml `f irixposifV tion,YA then drivefthrough:aretainingznail 16. Preferably this y is a headless or? sub1 -stantiallyheadles'snail andi isfNt counter'sunk v so asftorendenthesanieektrernelydiiicnlt off removal.V ThisinailpelforatesP-'thefstrap 90 l0, said nail being 'drivenh substantially-Vmidi Way 'olfthe llength of tliefsloo landt-he'reby securingr thebenefit'l of? affirm" bearing `in`Y the Wood.' at each side lofl theslot,V thus' securely holding' the? strap in place?. 'Phishecinllstruction also r'esult'sin a frmgvrrigidand safety locking arrangement;

Vith the strap or strap'slOthus projecting above the Vcover, andthrou'glf-theiopenings i5', provided therefer, the projectnglendfot eachstrap isthenbroughtV or`A hammered downwardly over' and; acrosstheirem'aning edge of the coverV to thepositonshovvn' in Fig. 5. AtthisY timeorfp'revioii'sly a'sfilnilar" slotv 18 is formed"through thetopmo'st edge of the side plank ges/also Clearflyillti'strated" in Fig.6. I' thenbend -theext'reme endjpart of the projecting strap lOpat-:inappropriate point so that the saine may b'e broiight","leenty orhammered'doyvn'sn'ugly around 'fthiecornerz f and into the' slot 18,'andv'with'theendriosii portion designatedatQO itting ir'it'o'2 slot 18,thu's' `al`so eilfect'ually closing, conlr cealingand'protecting'thenail 16. Tliisoon 4 struction' asthfus'ar"described,result f ufrprotecting" and encllsing reenferpingand locking means at. the ycorneror edge'ao'ftliel box Where Ithe strap' 1U`vi`sthisf bronglitr over Yanufgreanystrengthensthenoxconsumida; Thi s step` or InetliodfoflHavingF an 'internal reenforcing strap,j` eicteiiding thet saine througli portion off the? bei? andj also'` reen'LV forcing and'protocnn-,ggfv the outside: and ne a corner Vor -eldge-fis alsovlje'lievefdto Y been iy new, entri ereineinmea 125 ditiontpA the'concealed?astenin'l tlius' far describe@ I a" 'd aff urIier'Tet'a'i'ing-of loc] "ng membeg'v' Vtheviijziil..p

iii thisna'ill se "tle's'a just clear' of thetopinost -pt offzthfe loo lon the cover 4; and so positioned and directed that it will perforate.theV inturned flange 2O tting'in theV slot 18 in the topmost boardofthe sideY 2. This nail 21 may also be headless or substantiallyheadless, so that it is extremely diliicult to remove the same. Thussafety vreenforc'ing and locking construction is provided. But in orderto still further conceal and protect the safety sealing arrangement thusdescribed, Ifprefer to drive-down an ordinaryV headed nail 22, closelyadjacent the slanting nail 2l, Which nail 22 will be so positioned as toconceal the fact of any nail 2l Whatever. An ordinary observer will at.oncethink that the nail 21 is simply to retain the box cover inposition, as is usual, and from an exterior inspection it issubstantially impossible to understand just hoiv the overlapping endportions l0 are arranged, fitted, fastened or secured, and any intendedthieving or pilfering is thus effectually baified.'

In fact I find it is necessary to send instructions with my improved boxconstruction so that the consignee can properly open the box Withouttotally'destroying the same.

In order to easily, effectively and expeditiously perforate the strapsl0 for insertion of the staples l2 as also to form the recesses l and18, I may utilize any suitable or appropriatel tool. As illustrated inlEig. 10, a simple form of tool 25 is provided Wherein the spaced prongs26 at onelend may be used to perforate the strap or straps ll() Wheredesired, the opposite portion 28 being turned at right anglesthereto'and providing a sun face to receive the blows of a hammer. Ialso sharpen the end of the flange 28 as indicatedrat 30, this flangebeing of suitable Width, depth and thickness to form therecesses l5 and18, a. single blow of a hammer being` sufficient to effect thisperforation of the Weed. l e

llTith the internal strap construction as thus explained I may, ofcourse, utilize the extcrnalstraps 35, 35, nai-ling the same intoposition around tliebox as is usual. matter of fact these externalstraps may be entirely dispensed with, owing to the strong protectivearrangement of my internal raps, but for Ylarge packing cases and foreat distances of travel I prefer to apply e outer straps which also tendto conceal ti e fact of the inner strap construction.

It Will thus be seen that I have provided simple, novel and effectivemethod of box construction and utilizing a reenforcing, protecting andsafety sealing arrangement not only serving to indicate if the seal istamperedV with, but of such form and strength itself as to preventtampering with the box or breaking of the seal. VMy reenforcing,strengthening and Vsealing device furthermore actually protects theedges or corners and could be, if desired, made t-o As aV protect eaclicorner' entirely around the box, utilizing separate straps for `eachside, the bottoinand the cover, asfivill be readily appreciated.v f YFurthermore, by my method of internal reeniorcing straps and staples, Ieifectually prevent driving out or displacing of oneor inoreboards-orplanks froina case, and thus eliminate `this "from the usual methods of.damage, tampering'l and vpilfering from boxes. TheV advantages ofV myinvention, substantially insuring safety in transportation, eliminatinginsurance costs, difiiculties,

consignees, and the like, are of greatiinpoitance in commercial use. i

My invention is further described and defined in the form ofclaims asfollows:

disputesV and claims between consi-gnors and l. The improved'method ofbox construc- Y tion which consists in extending a reenforcing metallicstrapthrough a portion of the box, adjacent a corner, bending saidmetallic strap around the edge of the box and securing said Vstrap onboth the interior and exterior of the box. f n

2. The improved method of box construction which consists in extending areenforcing metallic strap through a portion of the box, adjacent acorner, bending said metallic strap around the edge of the box andsecuring said strap on both the interior and exterior of the box, andattaching the-end by a A concealed fastening.

S. The improved method of box construction Which consists in extending areenforcingmetallic strap through a portionof the box,.adjacent acorner, bending said metallic 'strap varound the edge of the box, andsecuring said strap on both the interior andex-y terior of the box, andattaching the end by a plurality of concealed fastenings.

4; A box construction of the kind described, having an internallypositioned reenforcing metal strap, and means attaching said' strap toadjacent edges of abutting planks in the box.

5. A box construction of the kind described, having an internallypositioned reenforcing metal strap, and means attaching said strap tothe interior of tlie'planks of the box, one ,end of said strap extendingthrough the top `or cover of thebox and means securing'said stra-p tothe outside portions of the box.

6. A box construction of the kind de-V scribed, having an internallypositioned reenforcing metal strap, means attaching said strapte theinterior of the planks of the 7. A box construction of the kinddescribed, having an internally'positioned reenforcingwmetal stra y :mdmean-e attaehino L, 7 D

said strap Yto 'me :interioiof'the planks ofthe an internallypositioned; re-

- i ivd means; attaching I3. throughA cent eco-mei, SaidStrapfibeing:bentaround ioryoithe planks oit'v one end of said strapextending the said comer;eoii'eejiiigfthe;end of said stirapggandmlefiiisseoi iig 'theszn'ie comprising one'i 'tsteniogg extendiifigthi'o'gh the Stro-p `Where -itfpasees through the topi-o1'.ycoverfanrda; Second fasteningV securing lthe end ofthestmpwvhereconeeaied 9. iBo'eoi-ist'uet-ion: having, af reenoreing Stre'ogreeessv th'oughj portion Yofsaid box,- any, Yetriteiijdiifig eindr fof the straprv'passing through., said freeess, andretaining-means tohold the i. thereof ini sei-id recess; f

Inf Vtesiilionyr whereof` l Y,have Signed. Y my BENJAMIN; Hom/IARDLinniej-i name toi-this specification.

op passing through a portion'

